Mx. Roman
Philosopher. Theory. Inspiration.
Lev Vygotsky
1896 - 1934
Lev Vygotsky, a Russian Psychologist, worked on the psychological development of children. Vygotsky created the Zone of Proximal Development the narrowing point of difference between what a learner can do without help and what he s/he can achieve with guidance and encouragement from a skilled partner.
1978
Vygotsky theorized that children learn through social interactions and modeled behaviors/instructions by educators. The community surrounding the child is the primary source of influence for children to acquire cognitive processes relevant to their society. Culture is developed by the internalization of knowledgeable peers with greater experiences, abilities, and needs. The social cognition learning model asserts that culture is the prime determinant of individual development. Humans are the only species to have created culture, and every human child develops in the context of a culture. This theory resonates with the current state of teaching. One can concur with Vygotsky that sociocultural interactions create meaning because learning is a necessary and universal aspect of the process of developing culturally organized, specifically human psychological function.
Teresa Louie
3rd & 5th Grade Teacher
This former teacher, a dear friend, is more than just an inspiration because she practically raised me as a surrogate child. The year prior to gracing her presence, my academic and social skills were suffering from a school system that was unsupportive of personal needs. Mrs. Louie was the first teacher to not make judgments about me and provided me with an education suitable to my learning strengths. She is the greatest inspiration that I try to emulate.